Infusing Computing is an NSF-funded research program delivering computing-infused, STEM-focused professional development to middle and high school teachers in order to improve computing learning across North Carolina and South Carolina.
our goal
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The goal of Infusing Computing is to provide interdisciplinary, computing-infused professional development for 360 middle and high school teachers in North Carolina and South Carolina. Participants will learn how to incorporate computing into the content area in ways that support and enhance their state and district curriculum.
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/ Equitable
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Our primary research question is: How do PD contexts (individual or team, school type) and cultures (discipline, state) impact the quality, implementation, and equitable access to STEM curricula integrated with computing?
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OUR RESEARCH DESIGN |
RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION |
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The Infusing Computing team has designed a rigorous comparison study to investigate how context and culture impact integrated STEM+C curricula. Each summer, we hold a week-long PD workshop for middle and high school teachers from North Carolina and South Carolina. During these intensive training workshops, half of the attendees will focus on traditional, single-teacher PD. The rest of the participants will implement our new interdisciplinary, team-based PD model where STEM+C teachers from the same school work together during the PD and throughout the academic year to create and implement computing-infused lesson plans using equitable pedagogies into their disciplinary courses. Both groups will receive hands-on training and on-going support throughout the academic year.
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Infusing Computing will directly impact 360 teachers in two states and approximately 7,000 students indirectly in their classrooms. Other outcomes of Infusing Computing will include standards crosswalks, integrated STEM+C lesson plans, resources, and tools. Standards crosswalks and the project research will make explicit connections across state and national STEM standards, computing standards, school curricula, and classroom contexts. As part of the ongoing professional development activities, teachers and the project team will collaborate to build lessons, activities, and resources that integrate computing into classroom-based activities. The project team will create computational tools for simulation and programming as needed to support these activities. These resources will be freely shared with other teachers and the public.
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"This was probably the best PD I've been to! I have learned so much that I can apply in my classroom. When I signed up for the training I was so nervous; I didn't know anything about computer science and was scared I would be out of my element. The training was broken down and made accessible. I enjoyed the showcase of everyone's products and can't wait to get started with my students." -J. Tant, North Carolina Educator
